Culture & Religion — February 12, 2009

Watch Ben Affleck End Genocide in the Congo

Though we’re more accustomed to see him in B-list romantic comedies and hosting Saturday Night Live, Ben Affleck reported some encouraging news out of central Africa recently where he has teamed up with photographer James Nachtwey to cover the ethnic conflict in the Congo.

Affleck, who has been visiting the region since 2007 “to learn,” said eastern Congo is seeing a slight de-escalation in ethnic fighting with the Congolese army taking an active role in seperating Hutu civilians from Interhamawhe militias. Rwandan president Paul Kagame said “I have never been more hopeful than right now.” Still can’t believe it? Catch Affleck’s reportage and all of Nachtwey’s images at Time World.

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Hard Science

Why a James Webb Space Telescope mystery doesn’t (necessarily) break cosmology

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Neuropsych

The Chiron effect: Are “wounded healers” better healers?

Sometimes you just want to hear, "I know what it's like."

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